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AS 4351.

8—1996
ISO 9888:1991

Australian Standard
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Biodegradability—Organic
compounds in an aqueous medium

Part 8: Determination by static test


(Zahn-Wellens method)

[ISO title: Water quality — Evaluation of the aerobic biodegradability


of organic compounds in an aqueous medium — Static test
(Zahn-Wellens method)]
This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee MS/56, Biodegradability of Materials.
It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 28 August 1995 and
published on 5 January 1996.

The following interests are represented on Committee MS/56:

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council


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Australian Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association

Australian Conservation Foundation

Australian Federation of Consumer Affairs

Federal Bureau of Consumer Affairs


Friends of the Earth

Griffith University

National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia

Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association


The Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject to
periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editions as necessary. It is important
therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition, and any amendments thereto.
Full details of all Australian Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia Catalogue
of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australian Standard’, which
subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editions and amendments, and of
withdrawn Standards.
Suggestions for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head office of Standards Australia, are
welcomed. Notification of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made without
delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 94148.


AS 4351.8—1996

Australian Standard
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Biodegradability—Organic
compounds in an aqueous medium

Part 8: Determination by static test


(Zahn-Wellens method)

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA


(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7337 0091 8
AS 4351.8 — 1996 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee MS/56 on Biodegradability
of Materials. It is technically equivalent to ISO 9888:1991, Water quality—Evaluation of the
aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in an aqueous medium —Static test (Zahn-
Wellens method) .
This is Part 8 in a series of Standards which give guidance and methods to determine the
biodegradability of organic compounds in an aqueous medium with the objective of
specifying a method for the determination of the ‘inherent’ biodegradability of an organic
compound at a given concentration by aerobic microorganisms. Determination of the
percentage removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or chemical oxygen demand (COD)
at regular intervals allows evaluation of the biodegradability of the test compound.
The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
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appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.

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3 AS 4351.8 — 1996

CONTENTS
Page

1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 PRINCIPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 TEST ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 REAGENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
7 APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
9 CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10 VALIDITY OF THE TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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11 TEST REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

APPENDIX A STATIC TEST— TYPICAL ELIMINATION CURVE . . . . . . . . . . 11

First publi shed as AS 4351.8— 1996.


AS 4351.8 — 1996 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Biodegradability— Organic compounds in an aqueous medium

Part 8: Determination by static test (Zahn-Wellens method)

1 SCOPE This Standard specifies a method for the evaluation of the elimination and
the ‘inherent’ biodegradability of organic compounds, at a given concentration, by aerobic
microorganisms.
The conditions described in this Standard normally correspond to optimal conditions for
allowing the maximum value of biodegradation to occur with the chosen inoculum in the
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test time.
The method applies to organic compounds which are —
(a) soluble at the concentration used under the test conditions;
(b) non-volatile, or which have a negligible vapour pressure under the test conditions;
(c) not lost by foaming from the test solution; and
(d) not inhibitory to the test microorganisms at the concentration chosen for the test.
Inhibitory effects can be determined by using a suitable test method (e.g. see
ISO 8192). If the test compound is toxic, the test concentration has to be lower or a
pre-exposed inoculum can be used.
The method can also be used to measure the elimination and biodegradation of organic
compounds in waste water (also called ‘test compound’ in the method).
WARNING AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: ACTIVATED SLUDGE AND
SEWAGE, MAY CONTAIN POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS.
THEREFORE, APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN
HANDLING THEM. TOXIC TEST COMPOUNDS AND THOSE WITH
UNKNOWN PROPERTIES SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE.

2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this


Standard:
AS
4351 Biodegradability —Organic compounds in a aqueous media
4351.3 Part 3: Determination by oxygen demand in a closed respirometer
4351.4 Part 4: Determination by analysis of released carbon dioxide
ISO
6060 Water quality — Determination of the chemical oxygen demand
8192 Water quality — Test for inhibition of oxygen consumption by activated sludge
8245 Water quality — Guidelines for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC)

3 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard, the definitions below apply.
3.1 Concentration suspended solids (of an activated sludge) — the amount of solids
obtained by filtration or centrifugation of a known volume of sludge under specified
conditions and drying at 105°C to constant weight.

COPYRIGHT
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AS 4351.8-1996, Biodegradability - Organic


compounds in an aqueous medium Determination
by static test (Zahn-Wellens method)
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

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